Jackie Robinson scholars celebrated at Safeco Field

Two students who attend the Evergreen State College in Olympia will be honored on Tuesday, August 27, during a ceremony before the Seattle Mariners game against the Texas Rangers (7:10pm start). The students are recipients of the annual Jackie Robinson Memorial Scholarship from the Evergreen State College Foundation.

The Jackie Robinson Scholarship was established in 1987. It is a collaboration between The Evergreen State College and Seattle Central Community College, an educational partner whose students often transfer to Evergreen to complete their baccalaureate degrees. The scholarship honors Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play Major League Baseball.

This year's recipients are Doneesha Brown of Seattle and Maxwell Hanckel of Boulder, Colorado. Brown will use the scholarship to pursue her "passion" for mediation arbitration. Brown says the scholarship "has allowed me the opportunity to reach my goals and helped me be the kind of example that my younger siblings could look up to."

Hanckel, who uses a service dog, says he is interested in exploring the bond between humans and dogs and canine behavior/psychology. Hanckel says without the scholarship, he would have to work, which would leave him less time to focus on his studies. "As a student with a service dog, handicaps and ADD, it is very difficult to focus on learning in school, working, and providing for myself and my service dog," says Hanckel. With the scholarship, he will be able to put all his energy into school.

Evergreen College has awarded 48 Jackie Robinson scholarships since 1987 thanks to the generosity of former Evergreen professor Patrick Hill who created the scholarship as a tribute to his parents, immigrants who never went to college but valued education. They were also great fans of Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers. The award recognizes students for their academic achievement and commitment to community involvement and social justice.